I want to first start off by saying, I’m a HUGE fan of Dancing with Stars. I’ve been watching this show ever since it first aired and I had the pleasure of attending a live taping back in November 2015 (click here). I had an amazing time and it was so much fun to watch. Well, while out in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet and take a dance class with a few dancers from Dancing with the Stars and Dancing with the Stars: Junior.
I was pinching myself because these guys are very talented and they took the time to chat with us and teach us a few dance moves. I will have a post later on about that experience but for now, read what Brandon Armstrong(Dancing with the Stars pro dancer paired with Tinashe), Alan Bersten(Dancing with the Stars pro dancer paired with Alexis Ren) and Gleb Savchenko(Dancing with the Stars pro dancer/mentor) had to say about being on the show and so much more! Our dance class was held at Gleb’s Pro Dance LA studio in Los Angeles, we had a blast!
Sidenote: If you are interested in the Dancing with the Stars Tour, you can grab your tickets here
How did you get into dance? What’s your favorite style of dance?
Brandon Armstrong:
I’m more like an all-styles kid. I trained in jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, ballet growing up mainly. I did ballroom with another pro on the show, Lindsay Arnold. We were ballroom partners. But I’m definitely more of like an all-styles kid, hip-hop, contemporary, stuff like that.
What has been your favorite moment from the show?
My favorite was this season, my first season as a pro. My partner was amazing. I think our favorite moments, we did an Argentine tango, that was like very much my style. It wasn’t traditional. It was to a different song, different type of vibe. So, that’s definitely like my style as a pro on the show. And so, I was really excited. That was one of my best.
When did you guys know that you wanted to be a professional dancer?
I was fourteen.
How did you start in dance, what’s your favorite style?
Alan Bersten
I’ve never danced before. I don’t know why I’m here lol. Yeah, I danced ballroom when I was seven years old and then I did So You Think You Can Dance and that really broadened my horizons. And now I’m lucky enough to be with these guys on Dancing with The Stars!
And every day we learn something new and it’s a lot of fun. So, even though we’re professionals on the show we’re still learning a new style every time we get a new song, you know, we’re changing things up.
Do you have a go-to person, place or experience to get fresh ideas for new inspiration?
I mean I feel like we’re fairly newer on the show. I mean, this is my third season, I think. But I feel like the songs kind of inspire us, you know. And our partners inspire us. So, every season is a different season because what I’m doing with Alexis I couldn’t do with Mariah or Debbie. So, every season you get an inspiration from your partner.
What has been your favorite moment from the show?
Honestly, my best moment was joining the show. You know, it was a dream of mine when I was younger. I was watching the show with my grandpa and it was so nice to like, think oh, maybe one day I can be there. And then one day I got here and it’s honestly a dream come true. So, honestly, every moment on the show is my favorite moment as cliché as that sounds.
What’s your favorite style of dance?
Gleb Savchenko
I mainly trained in ballroom and standard. I picked up all the different styles and you know, we do contemporary, jazz and hip-hop or whatever. So, it’s more like commercial. But mainly ballroom.
Dream dance partner?
Honestly, Arianna Grande, probably. Yeah, because she’s hot.
When did you know that you wanted to be a professional dancer?
Well, I grew up in Russia, Moscow, and the mentality of everyone, if your kid do something, right, the parents go 100% in it. So, by the age of nine, I was traveling across Russia doing all these different competitions and when I was 14, I started winning them. I started really enjoying it. And then I was like, that’s going to be my career. I’m going to be a dancer. And here I am!
“Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” airs Sundays at 8|7c on The ABC Television Network or streaming or on the app. / “Dancing with the Stars” airs Mondays at 8|7c on The ABC Television Network or streaming or on the app.
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Images via (ABC/Craig Sjodin), Coralie, ABC, Me
